Mead OrganizHER & Target Gift Card Giveaway

Being able to take two weeks out of our schedules and laze away on a ship, enjoy gourmet food and exotic ports of call is definitely a luxury, here at home our daily lives are so busy that we're running every which way before we have a chance to sit down and breathe.  If I don't write it down, it's likely not going to get done.

I love my computer and think technology is the bomb but....when it comes to staying organized I'm old school that way.  Hands on with a paper, marker or notebook is my style.  I wouldn't remember to mail checks or take my daughter to Girl Scouts or practices if I didn't have it on a calendar, if I don't go to the store with a grocery list...well lets just say I have a hard time deciding in the store aisles what we're going to eat for dinner that week!

I love Mead.  We use their products in our home for our homeschool record keeping, so when I found out they have a line called Organizher I was intrigued and wanted to see what it could do for the rest of my household planning.  The products can be purchased at one of my favorite places...Target...and are reasonably priced ranging from $3 to $15.

Click to read more ...

Rainbow Brite's New Look Giveaway

I'm finding it difficult to digest that Rainbow Brite is 25.  Because that means I'm old!  She is aging much more gracefully than I am though, and I think I need to find the salon Hallmark uses because Rainbow Brite has received quite the makeover.

Click to read more ...

Schleich Toys Review - These Are Such A Great Deal!

I am value conscious. I like to get the most bang for my buck. Toys are one of those things that I've always been reluctant to spend a lot of money on, because they are generally quite expensive for the quality and play value that they offer.

Schleich toys are such a great deal though. Maybe you, like me, have seen these toys at Target. Some of them start as low as $2.49. Most toys of this quality cost much more than that. These are made so well, they will last a very long time. I can attest to this because growing up, I had Smurfs. Perhaps some of you did too! We played with them in our home, a lot, and you know what? They are still in great shape, and the next generation of kids is still enjoying them. Oh yeah, guess who makes Smurfs? That's right...Schleich.

We received the following to review:

The Lippanzer horse right away inspired Genius to draw. These realistic animals are also a great learning resource for your homeschool. There are many occasions where these can be pulled out for learning, from Social Studies, Science, Language Arts to Art classes.

For those of you who like to avoid noisy toys, or are looking for an uncommon gift idea, picking up a few of these not only would satisfy both of those, but they are also extremely affordable.

Check out the variety of toys Schleich has by visiting their website. Genius personally has been eyeing the elf line!

Schleich was extremely generous to the TOS Crew when sending out these animals, if you want to see other reviews or more animals that other crew members received, head over to the TOS Crew blog!

Flu Shots - Go to your Doctor not a Store

Last year when Genius was still in public school, we opted to get our flu shots at a Target Flu Shot Clinic. Now the following is not a stab on Target rather it is on SUMMIT HEALTH the company that was contracted to do the flu shots. We chose to do the shots at Target because the public school was not pleased with you to take your children out of school during the day (HOORAY FOR HOMESCHOOLING) - and our doctor's office only does flu shot clinics from 7am to 11am in the morning.

In any case one year later -- today -- I realize what a HUGE mistake that was.

The shots were advertised at $27.50 a piece (the doctor's office was similar) - and they would file your insurance for it. Excellent, always a bonus. So I signed the form for both of us, and got the shots.

We got home and I remember reading the fine print that I signed stating that if your insurance is rejected they will bill you another $43.00 for the shot. I was not at all worried because I knew our insurance would cover it, I had called first to make sure.

In any case our old insurance company (we have a different one this year), has a 90 day window for person claims (claims that a company is not filing on your behalf) - when it was close to that day, I called the insurance to see if they had a claim - they said they did not. I then proceeded to call the pharmacist at Target to find out whom exactly was filing these claims. She was very kind, and phoned around for me, and called me back stating that Summit Health WAS NOT filing any claims as they said they would. Fine, so I make a personal claim with the insurance company and I at least get $25.00 back per shot .

Today I get a bill in the mail from Summit Health for both Genius and I for $43.00 each -- ????? --- only to find out they did file insurance after that 90 day window, and my claim was rejected because well I had already claimed for it. ARGH. And I'm liable for it, because well, I signed the form, fine print and all.

Now I am not stupid, far from it, and feel I was horribly duped. I had checked not just with one person but with a number of people, all to make sure I would be covered for this shot that in the end cost me $45.50 a piece x2 so that was $91.00 for a shot that we could have got at the doctor's office for free --

What an expensive lesson learned -- seek medical care from your doctor, even if it costs more at least you are putting your money into someone you trust and value and not a big, impersonal, money hungry company.

Fortunately for me, I received this years when I went for my annual checkup at the doctor's just yesterday. Genius will go to the flu shot clinic next week for hers....and I don't even have to take her out of school...which is how this all started....

Pleased to Help the Environment

I believe there's one thing I could do much better to help the environment, and it's a small step and fairly easy to do. "Use my own bags at the store". Simple Huh? So then why don't I? Good question. I guess because everytime I go to the store and think about it, I say to myself "I'll grab some of those bags next time". Another reason I don't is that I shop so many places, and honestly, I'm concerned about the brand recogintion. Do I use Walgreen bags at Wal-Mart? Hy-Vee bags at Sunshine Foods? Wal-Mart bags at Target? Not a real big dilemna I'm sure, but I do think I'd feel awkward using a store's branded bag at a different retailer.

In any case, I shop at Target A LOT. And oh, hey. what's up? is having a contest for some re-usable bags from Target. Check it out, and help the environment!

Okay those that know me well also know my obsession with "The Bullseye Store" and if you don't know what that is well you live under a rock! I make my bi-monthly run, with list in hand (and only so infrequently because well, honestly I cannot afford to go any more than that!), and did you know they offer coupons for their grocery goods on their website, that you CAN COMBINE with manufacturer's coupons for even more savings? Let me tell you I have gotten some fabulous deals using both, and Genius is just eating the last bag of Goldfish that I got for 75¢ each. Now some of you I know can get way better deals than that, but here in Podunk, well it just doesn't happen often, so I am thrilled when I can save not just 50¢ from target but even more with another cents off coupon. But I digress, the real reason I am posting this is to promote yet another blogger's bloggy giveaway.Mom of 2 Dancers is giving away a $25.00 Target Gift Card (oh yeah that's how this all started!), at her blog. So don't check out her blog (hee hee I'm greedy that way, the less people who check it out the better my chances to win are right? Okay I'll play fair) read some of her posts, bookmark it even to come back to, and then enter her contest if you really have to.